Fe3O4 nanoparticles: A highly efficient and easily reusable catalyst for the one-pot synthesis of xanthene derivatives under solvent-free conditions

Abstract

Magnetically separable Fe3O4 nanoparticles supply an environmentally friendly procedure for the synthesis of 14-aryl-14H-dibenzo[a,j] xanthene and 1,8-dioxooctahydroxanthene derivatives. These compounds were obtained in high yields and short reaction times by the reaction of dimedone and 2-naphthol with various aromatic aldehydes under solvent-free conditions. The catalyst could be easily recovered using an external magnet and reused for six cycles with almost consistent activity.